Granular material classieier or purifier



Oct. 12, 1943. w. N. SMITH 2,331,850

GRANULAR MATERIAL CLASSIFIER OR PURIFIER Filed Nov. '27, 1940 5Sheets-Sheet l MAJ mww Oct. 12, 1943. w. N. SMITH 2,331,350

I GRANULAR MATERIAL CLASSIFIER OR PURIFIER Filed Nov. 27, 1940 sSheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 12, 1943. w. N. SMITH 9 3 I GRANULAR MATERIALCLASSIFIER OR PURIFIER Filed Nov. 27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JZ g- 5(3st. 12, 1943. w. N. SMITH 2,331,850

GRANULAR MATERIAL CLASSIFIER OR FURIFIER- Filed Nov. 27, 1940 5Sheets-Sheet 4 I Z5 22 HQ 5 Ina-en '07 William 32112711 13;; hisilfioiwryd Get. 12, 1943.

W. N. SMITH GRANULAR MATERIAL CLASSIFIER OR PURIFIER Filed Nov. 27, 19405 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jnzzen 2'01 William N J'mz'fh By Z2217 AfzarnayaPatented Oct. 12, 1943 .;2;331,85 0 V a :GRANULAR MATERIAL CLASS EIER mr i OBIUB EIER v s William N. Smith, Great Eal lsg A nlicationNovemher27, 1940, Serial No. 367,477

f 37 (Claim IThisfiinventionw-relateslto :improvements -invapparatusemploying scentrifugal :lforce land =zthe :ed' tomse' in; a: mill:demted torrrociess ng/rwhea into-flour, for, separatingandwrecoveringrpredeterminedgraincenstituents.

=. The: present: device. mayr zused ing ,t amih pr cess to replacethevimachinelk w s a h FFMiddIingS Purifier? Althqughthedeviceqw lgs on.-entirely rrdifierent principles frgm a purifier, -it -f;arlsurpassestheflsame in-;efiicienpy, qapacity, and-:eoonomy .ofwoperation. :Whenused m -place of, a purifier tor preparing middlings; stock; eforgrinding,' the device removes. the small-bran; ar-

ticles; or b,eelwihgs. from the -middli-ngs so theroughlymand.consistently. that these i impulilties may .bersent ,directlmfmm, thedevice t the .bran bin. 7, The middlings from, the vdevicehbeingjreefrom man .impuritiesrandclassified ,for. grinding by their specificgravity, may-be. {more thoroughly round by the, reductionrolls,therebypromotirlg greater mill ecapa'qity and a higher degreegoi,purityin thefiourprqduced.

" Thedevice operates on a? fraction of the power i required by apurifierrand has? the added advantages of minimum wear "of [movingpartsff'l'he 'devicehas no silk,eccentric-bearings; sieve hang- 'ers; orconveyors" requiring maintenance: *The middlings' stocks passingthroughthe devicefare f treated-with asmall fraction of the airordinarily used-in a: purifier so" that the-moisture -1oss -=in thestocks is smaller, aiactor which is favorable to the quality and:quantity of' fiour -pr0duced.

*The device-mayalsobeused inthe-first stages crane-min process as araden-by passing to the device the-aggregate mixture o-f middlings-f-rom agiven break with the exception -0fthe first scalp. Thisaggregate' mixture is segregated -by the device: according to thespecifiegravity of the 50 middlings-presentand sent directlyto'thereduction rolls. :The" branhparticles end -flour recovered; :from:.the:inner iring'srof ithe device are then sent to :theistandard reeholt:section -in the. mill.

These sentionsizsendx ;the'-govers: of -their.;scalping r55 mak n $31 3olothszdirect-ltotha branabin. vice Ana-this manner eonservessthe llargebelting area ordinarily alloted tm thisflwprkdnslthel breakbeltingemaehinesand provides ior direct disp'ard orthfe; rebqlt-scalps-t'oieed arr advantageswhich is-nOt-otherW-lsdlaossibk; l v

--The device may-also be used in -the millvpmcess for the distinctrecovery of thewivheatligrin'. When the-mill-stoekscontainingethe'wheatgg'rm are preparedhy corrugated rollsiongerni'reeqvery, the device willrenaove thesge'rmfizbm these 1 stoglzsin i' h-Ole' nbroken;-state. ll'heed'v ice will also recqverflattenedger -ifmm'. last stage mill stocks-which in standard-praticearedis- QQLQQQ i wfee 5 .rreseet r .mo -ffl p pp'earathe eproximate1y-sem'i-spherieai 6r 'dbln-lik ithesszasina .ahiehlrimn ieeh t.y ntiqn,.le ;iszal the iz i wiflfihwthe g, of. a shower, 0 ateria1 ;tobela ssified j ectories and are classified atihebottdhi'oi tthe eas n .saeqerdlila s al 1? P of the spinning,

sea-t ataatsemirsaheee i}bee i ssleetedramusra d diam i ames Ii n, r. r.l m ereaaee soiihaier nti aii heir si aa vtha'ehewl irli hoe rb k v 'li@The use;- of-ithede form sectional view frriately on the line l2-|2.'

' "Figure'l3 is a top plan view of the balancerfan showing "its valve inopen cal working'units, the 'ingclosed by a base I and the top by ahollow hemispherical top 8, the

and the removing of such material accordin to its classification.

The above and other important objects and v unit device .in accordancewiththe present invention.

Figure 2 is a general transverse vertical sectional view taken throughFigure 1 and showing the interior mechanism of the device.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional through Figure 2 approximately on theline 3-3 view taken and looking downwardly in the direction of thearrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary revolving collector.

Figure 5 is a. similarly fragmentary top plan View of the stationarygrooved table showing the stock discharge opening therein.

Figure 6' is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing therevolving collector associated with the stationary grooved table, withthe collector slightly elevated out of engagement with the table. a

Figure "I. is a similarly enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional viewshowing operative association of the collector and table. a Figure 8 isan enlarged fragmentary side el e vational view showing-portions of thedual drive located on the exterior of the casing of the de vice.

* Figure 9;is a schematic diagram of the portion of the drive mechanismfor the upper revolving .co ctor-. i

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective viewof the collectorchamber showing one of the three selector valves thereinand a portion ofits operating mechanism.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary horizon tal sectional view takenthrough Figure 3 approximately on the line I l--l I and looking, down-;wardly in the, direction of the arrows and showingthe means forlocking'a selector valve ina s lecte position.

an enlarged transverse vertical 'gure 12 is taken through Figure 3approxiposition. j

Figure li is a group perspective view of the adjustable air sleeveassembly showing the parts in unassembled relation. a

" Figure 15' is a view chiefly in vertical section illustrating amodified form of centrifugal delivery cup.

" Referring in detail to the drawings, the mimeral 5 generallydesignates the device which in this instance comprises a verticalcylindrical casing B which supportsand encloses two identilower end ofthe casing betop and the base having, respectivelyj'upper and lowerbearings 9- and "It! for the ends of the cone shaft ll whichispositioned concentrically in the casing and is the operating shaft forboth the upper and lower working units. These units are driven by asingle "electric motor [2 mounted vertically on the sidethe units andhaving l4 to the wall of the casing'between its shaft pulley connectedby a belt vertical shaft'of the speed control l5 having a top plan viewof the.

manual control lever l6 which enables the oper ator to regulate thespeed of the feed cone H which is locked on the cone shaft I l at thedesired height thereon by a set-screw la in the feed cone hub 19, thespeed control l5 having the shaft connected by a belt to the cone shaftpulley 2 l. A double or two-unit device is here illustrated to point outthe savings of floor space, driving mechanism, and power requirementpossible with the presentidevice, the statedobjects and. advantages ofthe invention being attainable in a greater or less degree with a singleunit arrangement.

The above briefly indicated variable speed device may take various formsand may be any one of the manyv commercially well-known variablespeedmechanism such as found on the market. 'For example, it might be of theform of variable speed pulley mechanism such as disclosed in the nowpublic property Patent No. 179,746 issued to W. A. Wales of date July11, 1876. However, in this machine, wherein a fountainlike shower of thecommingled materials is centrifugally projected within an approximatelysemi-spherical dome, avariable speed mechanism of some kind ishighlyimportant because for maximum efficiency the outer layer of the showershould be made to follow very closely the concave interior of the dome.By this operation there will be left very little, if any, clear airspace between the precipitated stock and the interior of the dome.

Supported by thecasing sidewalls is the circu lar stationary groovedtable 22, each working unit having one of these acting as the'bottom ofthe unit. The construction of the grooved table is shown in Figures 5, 6and '7. The concentric grooves 23, for example, inch wide by inch deeprun the full circumference of the table at -1 inch intervals except forthe rectangular radially extending discharge opening 24, through whichthe stock is discharged. A stationary sleeve and flange bearingconstitutes the hub of the grooved table and supports the revolvingcollector 26, (see Figures 4, 6 and 1), by its hub bearing 21. Therevolving collector 26 comprises master radial spokes 28, which arerigidly fastened to the "hub bearing 21 and shorter subspokes 29 whichare disposed between the master spokes and provide uniformity of thesize of the pockets 30, between, all spokes and all of the circularrings 3! which are connected to the various spokes. The circular ringsextend T33 of an inch below the lower edges of all of the spokes andextend about of an inch into the grooves 23 of the stationary table asshown in Figure '7.

Mounted on the .underside of the table is the balancer fan case .33,which contains the turbine type fan runner 34, fastened on thecone shaftl I. The intake port 35 of the fan case, is at the top and the dischargeport 36, is on one side. The aperture of the intake port 35 iscontrolledby the slide valve 31 by the. screw 38 working in the bracket39 secured to the bottom of the table.

An adjustable air sleeve 40, consisting of an upper member 4|, whichtelescopes into a lower member '42 is held stationary in an uprightposition by the lower member 43, fitting into the table bearing 2 5, tothe depth of the flange 44 on between; hee en rmestiandr he nexta le npe, 3 IE}: t re: bein wfinllxrfihliee' such; rings-1 29N1 2 ladr-ipilicup 41; provided. toppasstoil; lqwn h teueli he 1326441306therbearings. nd .15. i The; o ical tocls hopper. 4:1: mounted at;the apeggof thqtop Got-the casing't'xs'terminates inashort nipple 5Qover which: a;-ve rticallyl adjusta-l hie.- s eeve 5 i -sl ht y. lar er;diameter slidesei The-altitude of; theisleeye; 5|, is;;acljusted;by the:crew: l vch; pasees hro. hithfl hopp r 49% and is threaded throughthe,,tqp,; figadjacent;the; pi l e h ft bearinefli Ahopper inta e p uteee n e he oene t ihe rtioni fi theopen ingfi .thatis notusegl by;thedelivery spout; mustz: ei eredt e Pr v ded a r1seaL; All spouting ead,iutq and out-ofe hei asingi 5-.must=. b.e.- d; with, air chechQvalues.55; afseshowngin 3!; hi ecase wine-m gate va1yes55u a e ened llly: bin;passageiorc stock: t Sm e ri lliine' aeqllippeda Flowing stock pip ihelve fiza dmasses 11nder;it;.withoutallowing a large amouutot; air to,pass through WithflilleStOck; a

'Fi urel 10 hows the, detailsiof the; collector: chamb'erifi andselector valvel's 5'l,w 58;:and 59hcollectq ecept cle 1hamberlisemountedf ial. ellv .ng., n,.it i edial m utwardl l o t espacesdirectly under the,- rectang.u 8 1 opening 24.;in .thesttiolflfiry a lndy om risesl rectangular.

metal'box having four openings 69;!51, 62 and; 63in itsbottorn,separated, by the three .selector l-Y 53 3 5 32'; F u fi 2. hows theC0117.

struction of theselector =valves. The ,upper tele.-,

scoping member ,64, is SUDPOII BQ' bynspringso 65w which ke'ep theuppermernber in; a fully, elevated, position when the valve is set]forward-;' or fiberhind ith vertical position. The sholilders p66,;10fthe upper member, slide 1 1r-. the ,rails 61.

19 5 6? P P: 9 he box; t e ;ra 1s;k pine i the up ermemb r, 54 at auniform altitudeawheni the selectorf valve is set; either in alyerticalor; slopingpQi ition V n impbrtani P rt. o ach: Wmtk neuni-tonne device is r. a, dom e shap ed top i 8 and -in the: case of theupper unit this top also servesas the top; ofjthel casing 5. The purposeof this ;.shape. oi; we is to restrict tothe ;minimurn ,the inactive,airspace in the air; chamber 65;;betvveenthe .v fountainofiallingvstockuand the dornetop. Air isadmittedQtQ the-air chamber, 65through theports Gain .the dome-top} having-tadjustable averse; Airisadmitted' intothe top a jof the lower unit inIthe same manner afterthe air hasffirst ip assed through the circumferentiallyspa edports 68in the sidewalls of-the main casinglofthe' device.

The revolvingcollector 26 of the-two Working; units, are driven from thecone; shaft; I I by the upper iand lower pairs of belts ,69 and 76 whichpass over pairs'of pulleys 7 I and 12 on the sh'aft Hvandwthroughtighter pulleys ii-and l4 hav, ingfspririgs 15, 1e anchoredtothe casing 5 and 1 1;

Thelhelts 69 pass out of the casing around; pulleys i8 and, aroundupper.pulleys Y19 and intov thelgroove 80 in the rim oftherevolvingcollector;Thisbelt. groove ,80 vis protected fromialling stock buia'narrow-metalfiangetl which projects in: wardly. over 'the outside .ring. 3 l of therevolving, COllCfOliflfiOiIl th'e domegtop 8.. The lowerbeltsl 10working unit Figural illustrates stoclgibeing delivered to the-q top,worlgin'g unit by the ,spout 53, The; stock-l f r. 5 i yea-1 39:iheiieeheels alrh iiihe sitiont by the set, screws;8hrmountedasshown-im70--- similarly. operate a the rcollector of the lower 1; .l j v Q 52;Axdesirable degree-of theifeedrcloneu os i e p ertu t idlt e w r unitthro eht e lsp ut; 8 a

flowed into.- the= stocki happen 49.: The stoekl is directedidomroaround the cone: sh'aft' l l by tlie adjustablessleeve 151$ toxa-vdepth in the feed pone- I115 determined. byvthe settingmf the screwcontrolslip i's provided foi be-i tween; the stock: andz theisunface ofthe 'feed cone Haas. the irotary nmotion of the -f'eed cone Iii-is.transmittedeto the stock; -'I his-slip-=-causes an" evemspread of thestock over the inner surfa'ce of Centrifugal force exertsaeliori zontalradially outward pull on-the-stoeh in the i feed. cone .1 l :whichoperates: desirably in causing the-stock to press:outv/ardl-y on=-thesidesf "the feedicone:and thereby adopt-:the rotary motionCentrifugal-dome is: further: involved in causing the-stoekto takea'spii'al route iup:a1ong-= the-sideeof theifeed cone to the upper endthereof i'from which the stoclefinally dischargesin-a fountainlike-formation indicated by;the arrowsi82,:in Figure-25 The particlesinthe aggregate stockhaving the-greatest specifiegrav ity; are-ithrown'iingreatest distance away from the feed; cone .lTL-zt All' lighterp'articleyare sim-i V larlyprojected proportionately 51113211'61-di8t3ll088 away-.Xfromethe'vfeed; comet-.4 All Lparticles: eventu-=allyxf all in irela'ted spacesadefinedi-betweem adj a centcircularzrings 3 L :of .thei revolvingi=collector= 2G :and onto.thelsurfacel of thegroo-ved tablw 22p Whilethecircular:- rings:3li=m=aintaim the radial: position. of :the groups; .of particlesl-of diiferenti. specific gravities, all of the-ispokesimandiwoush allpfi Ftheistockion theisurface of- :the grooved tablexarou-nd to .the dischargeopening 2 1.1 The circular; rings .31; which: extend :below the loweredges .of all p15. the spokesnurr submergedzin stock in the.gIQOVeSlZsiH the table-2E thereby formin-ge axstock .sealibetween thecircular: rings :and the: grooves .which prevents. the e stockl-lini; aheavily loaded space ..from runningmndem the.- adjacent:- rings to. aineighboringhspace on leitheiu sideethati maybe-lightlyloaded; V

As the-is egregatedcstock :falls throughuthe etablei. discharge .opening2e into the collector-chamber 56,\.the,l, stock -..of-. anyuselectedspaceuori combinae tioni-- of (spaces. is guided too. the ;.dischargeports: 611;,6 l'., 62% and. 63';v inithe bottom. kofmthe. collectorlichambenby setting of the..select.or.yalyes 57.;58; and-e591; a When the.desiredcpositionswof:the. se-Iector valves. are,- achievedthey'areeanchoredtim po-i Figure "11 and. engaging.,the; connecting trod-i845; corresponding to th'e ;particular:.;valye.a:which LiS'. connectedat to a crank 86 connectedzwithmhe g valve. 7 r

. The selector v lves imthe upper ni zshown a set for the delivery2 of;the stock-from the; four;- ut rx ost. paces intodischa ge iopenin sfi i;f-IOIILQ- f ur inner. spaces, to disobe epenin ufi i fr mi a singleinner,spa0e,, into; the dischar eopening; 6! l d-.i m 1: he f urteen inermost .-.snac s to;

e dischar e o e n -BL mnaris nithe v sin; the tlowerau t." e s tl ferenty f o own thout Q k T c ma e ro 8. n c te t pa h o t fl fa rou h e s okenteri t a ixc amber. 65.01 the upper unit from the outside-Thesegaircurrents, pr oduceduby the balai cerefani lppperam as el ows:

The .air entering the chamber, 65 ,through the; ports 68in the don e topB pass throughthefallm ing fountain of stock, and thelmajQre ortie pihis-a l; Passes d wn ar l t rou hlthe iurmeluzl of the air sleeve alland passes through the space.

regulated as to size by elevating and twisting the upper member 4| inthe lower member 42; .When the desired adjustment is found the twosleevemembers are locked in position by the draw, screw arrangement 9!, whichspans a split portion of the lower member 42. The air drawnv downthrough the air sleeve andaroundthe cone shaft II is sucked through theintake port 35 and into the balancer fan .casing 33. The size oftheintake port 35 is regulated by the valve 3] operated by the screw 38as already indicated. 4

The air passing through the. stock in the air chamber 65 in the mannerdescribed, is of relatively small volumeand. of low velocity so as toeliminate formation of dead-air space, and counteracts the outward flowof air in the air chamber 85 otherwise caused by the. rotation of thefeed cone H and the falling fountain of the stock, so that the fallingof the stock particles in fountain formations are governed in theirtrajectories solely by their own specific gravity and the speed ofrotation of the cone 11,." and the fan 34 will draw practically nomaterial from the air chamber'65. The fan 34 exhausts throughits port 35into the room in which the device operates or out of the building ifdesired. i

, The action of the balancer fan 34 in the present device is not to beconfused with the action of the fans in aspirators and sieve purifiersof various designs,'which invariably draw large volume, high velocityair currents up through the stocks they treat for the purpose of drawingthe'light material up and out of the heavy material. In.

the present case, it is to be noted that the air is instead drawn downthrough the stockto the fan. This is exactly the reverse of standardpractice for air currents in machines of other design.

' Achievement of the proper trajectory of the fountain of stock in theair chamber 65 is important. Proper trajectory of the projected stock isthat under which the heaviest particles of stock in the aggregatemixture travel tov within one circular space of the full radius of thetable and complete their outward flight and fall free straightdownwardly under the uninfiuenced force of gravity for a safety marginof about three inches, in the present embodiment, before striking on thegrooved table.

Achievement of proper trajectory of the stock requires the properaltitude of the feed cone ll on the cone shaft I l,-the proper speed ofrotation of the feed cone I1, and the proper degree of pitch of thewalls of the feed cone. These factors vary for different kinds of stocksbeing segregated. For middlings stock in a flour mill, the feed coneshould have a 43 degree pitch with the diameter of the top of the feedcone twenty percent of the diameter of the revolving collector. Theelevation of the upper edge of the feed cone above the surface of therevolving collector must be substantially forty percent of the diameterof the revolving collector. The rim velocity of the feed cone of theillustrated embodiment in inches per minute, should be one hundred timesthe diameter of the revolving collector in inches. The speed of therevolving collector must be regulated to approximately one hundred andfive feet, rim

velocity, per minute.

Referring to Figure l of the drawings, the

ancer fan discharge pipes 31 are shown projecting through the'casing 5.

Not only is the means for variable speed of the centrifugal cup orprojector desirable for purposes already noted, but to adjust themachine for various kinds of stock or materials to be separated. Inpractice I have found that the speed must be properly adjusted inaccordance to the fineness,

coarseness, or specific gravities of the commingled materials in order,so to speak, to fit the fountainlike or umbrella-like shower to theinterior of the dome and thereby acquire the highest possible efficiencyin the separating actions.

In a 1,500 barrel fiour mill, the present device, in a five footdiameter one unit model replaces two .Nordyke purifiers" of the 40 x 76size. The device can take over the entire load of No. 1 middlings fromthese two standard purifiers and in addition to doing a superior job ofgrading these middlings for grinding, the device makes a direct discardto feed of anextremely high percentage of all the free bran particles,or bee wing, contained in the original middlings. My

device does this superior work with an expenditure of horse-power ascompared with a total of 6 horse-power required by the two purifiersmentioned. Air is used by the device at the rate of cu. ft. per minutecompared with 2,160 cu. ft. per minute used by the said two purifiers.Unlike the standard purifiers, my device has no silk, eccentricbearings, sieve hangers, brushes or conveyors to wear out, replace, andmaintain.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and describedherein, it is to be understood that I do not wish to-limit theapplication-of the invention to the precise structural details thereof,except as may be required by the scope of the subjoined claims.

In Fig. 15 I have illustrated a modified or improved form of centrifugalstock delivery cup and in this view the power-drivenvertically disposedshaft IOO may be assumed to be a substitute for the shaft I I of theabove described machine. In this structure the cup llll is shaped muchlike the cup I! but is provided at its perim-' eter with a verticallyadjustable annular rim I02 is made adjustable and IE2. This rim adaptedto be secured in various adjustments by suitable means, such as screwsI03 that work with threaded'engagement through lugs I04 on the exteriorof the cup. Preferably the upper, ends of these screws I03 are swivelledto an internal flange 35 on the lower edge of the annular rim I02.Obviously, the above described variation of the speed of discharge ofmaterial under the action of centrifugal force due to vertical ad- 1justments of the annular rim I02 will vary the shape and diameter of theouter surface of the projected shower ofmaterial and can be, veryadvantageously employed for the purpose of making the shape of theshower of material properly conform to the shape of thesemi-sphericaldome under varying conditions of cup speed and materialcharacteristics; Experience has;

2,83 shown that the best results are obtained when the umbrella-likeshower is so projected there will be little or no dead air space betweenthe outer surface thereof and the inner surface of the dome. Adjustmentsof this annular rim or collar I02 of" the material under the action ofcentrifugal force and serves to adapt the cup for the best delivery ofdifierent kinds of materials.

When the cup is made conical and with a small diameter lower portion, Ifound that some kinds of material will tend to bank up and remain at thebottom of the cup, and to prevent this I have provided a cup with a.vertically adjustabledisc-like plate or false bottom I86. This falsebottom I06 is rigidly secured. to the rotary shaft 100 in the properlyset adjustments by suitable means such as a set-screw HIT.

When grain is delivered into the cup it will fall onto the disc or falsebottom I06 and by centrifugal force will be immediately discharged.radially outward against the interior wall of the cup, therebyovercoming any tendency of the stock to accumulate at the bottom of thecup and insuring an even discharge of the: material from the cup. Thevertical adjustments of the annular rim or collar of the cup adapts thecup for the proper discharge of various different kinds of materials andadjusts the rate of discharge for the speedthat is given to the rotationof the cup.

In the specification I have used to describe the character of theprojected shower such terms as approximately semi-spherical andumbrellashaped shower, the latter term, of course, meaning substantiallythe shape of an opened umbrella. These terms are used in a liberal senseto describe a shower such as produced by the rotation of a cup ordischarge head arranged to rotate on a vertical axis. An importantfeature is the provision of a dome or casing that is arranged tosubstantially fit or follow the exterior of the shower produced by sucha discharge cup or centrifugally acting discharge head. With such a domeand such a shower produced the same, there will be no air pockets orair" chambers outside of the shower in which air' eddies or conflictingvertexes will be'produced' and which would tend to breal'r up the uni--formity of the projected shower.

This application is being filed as a continuation-in-part of my pendingapplication for Granular material classifier or purifier, filed December7, 1939 under S. N. 3083968 and allowed May 31, 1940.

In actual practice we have found this improved machine hi'g-hlydesirable and very eifi'cient for serves to vary the speed of dischargethe separationof many different kinds of'materials. The machine hasceptionally well in the wheat and other grains.

What I claim is:

l.v A device of the character described, said de-' vice comprising aclosed vertical casing, a vertical rotary shaft supported insaid casing,a stationary table across said casing below the top" of the'cas ing and:traversedibysaidz shaft, a rotary collector immediately above saidtable, rotating mean for rotating said collector independently of saidshafit, said. collector comprising radially and" circumferentiallyspaced pockets. bottomed by the upper surface ofi said table an: air"conduit spacedly surrounding; said shaft: and. traversing collector andrsaid table; a suction. fan havits intake connectedtc; the lower end of:said been found to work excleaning'and grading of 5 air conduit,acentrifugal material projecting cup fixed. to said shaft within theopen upper end of said air conduit for projecting particles deposited insaid cup to differently radially spaced ones of. said pockets of saidcollector in accordance with the specific gravity of the particles; andair inlets in said dome-shaped top admitting outside air to theinteriorof the top to be drawn'into the upper end of said air conduit bysaid suction fan, said suction fan having an exhaust exterior of. said ag:

2. A device as set forth in-claim '1 wherein said table is formed with adiametrically extending pocketed particle discharge opening into whichthe'pocketedparticles are pushed by said rotary collector, and areceiver under said discharge opening. g 4 3. A device in accordancewith claim 1 where-:

in the space between the top of saidtable and of said dome-shaped topconstitutesa controlled air chamber in which the natural outward aircurrents produced by rotation ofsaid centrifugal cup and the travel ofthe particles therefrom and the incoming of the particles arecounterbalanced by. air indrawn by said suction. fan. into the openupper end of said air conduit inlets, thereby permitting free fall thewalls from. said air of the centrifugally projected particles 4. A.device inaccordance with claim 1- wherein a second dome-shaped top issupported by saidcasing below said suction fan, said second top' beingtraversed by said shaft, asecond stationary table supported in saidcasing below said second top, a second rotary collector fixedto-saidshaftimmediately abovesaid second table, a second centrifugal cupon saidshaft between-said second top and said second collector, meansfor feeding particles to the first and second centrifugal cups,- secondrotating means for rotating said second collector independently of saidshaft.

.5-. A device in accordancewith-claim 1 wherein a second dome-shaped topis supported by said: casing below said: suction fan, said: second topbeing traversed by-saidshaft, a second stationary table supportedinsai'd'casing below" said second: top, a secondrotarycollector fixed tosaid shaft immediatelyzabove'said second table, a secondcentritugalcup'orr said shaft between said second top and the said secondcollector,- means for feeding. particles to the first and second centrifugal cups-, second rotating means for rotating said second collectorindependently of said shaft:

and: common drive means operatively connected to the first and saidsecond rotating means for simultaneously operating said shaft and saidfirst andsecondl collectors.

6. A- device-according to claiml whereinasaid fan: comprises a bladedrotor fixed on, said shaft fori'rotationa thereby.

7. "A device: according to? claim -1 wherein said cup comprises an.invertedhollow cone.

8. A device-for segregating'particles' of. differ ent weights from anincoming aggregate of such particles and collecting together-theparticles of different Weightsso segregated, said devicecomprising asubstantially closed chamber; a-i'rotary cup for' receiving the incomingaggregate and centrifugally"projecting the particles over the edge ofthecupasthe cup rotates so that the particlestravel in'trajectories.comensurate with their weight so that the terminals of'thetrajeotones are radially spaced at different distances from'the'cup; means for turning said cup, a'; stationary table'surrounding said:cup, a rotary collectorion said table comprising circumferentiallyi andradially arranged pockets bottomed by said table to receive thecorresponding particles expelled from the cup at the terminals of theirrespective trajectories, said table being formed with a radial openingthrough which the collected particles fall from the pockets as thepockets come into registry with said radial opening. 1

9]In a centrifugal particle separator, said separator comprising a rotorfor centrifugally projecting the particles, a collector surrounding saidrotor, said collector comprising a stationary table formed with aradially extending particle discharge opening, a rotary gratesuppcrtedupon said table, said grate comprising concentrically spaceddividers dividing the same into different radially spaced compartmentsbottomed by said table to receive particles having a trajectory to falltherein, said grate further comprising radial dividers extending acrosssaid compartments for pushing the particles collected in saidcompartments to said discharge opening, and operating means for rotatingsaid grate.

10. In a centrifugal particle separator, said separator comprising arotor for centrifugally projecting the particles, a collectorsurrounding said rotor, said collector comprising a stationary tableformed with a radially extending particle discharge opening,'a rotarygrate supported upon said table, said grate spaced dividers" dividingthe same into different radially spaced compartments bottomed by saidtable to receive particles having a trajectory to fall therein, saidgrate further comprising radial dividers extending across saidcompartments for pushing the particles collected in said compartments tosaid discharge opening, and operating means for rotating said grate,said operating means comprising means for simultaneously rotating saidrotor.

11. In a centrifugal particle separator, said separator comprising arotor for centrifugally projectingthe particles, a Collector surroundingsaid rotor, said collector comprising a stationary table formed with aradially extending particle 1 discharge opening, a rotary gratesupported upon said table, said grate comprising concentrically spaceddividers dividing the same into different radially spaced compartmentsbottomed by said table to receive particles having a trajectory to falltherein, said grate further comprising radial dividers extending acrosssaid compartments for pushing the particles collected in saidcompartments to said discharge opening, and operating means for rotatingsaid grate, radially spaced separators positioned below said radialopening in the table, a receiver in which said separators are mounted,means to adjust adjacent ones of said separators to accept only theparticles falling through said discharge opening from the gratecompartments, lying between the adjacent separators, and operating meansfor selectively positioning said separators.

-12. A device of the character described, said device comprising aclosed vertical casing, a vertical rotary shaft supported in saidcasing, means for-rotating said shaft, a substantially inverted conicalcentrifugal cup secured axially on said shaft, a stationary tablesupported across said casing below the upper end of said'cup, said tablebeing formed with a discharge opening, a rotary collector supportedimmediately above said table for-collecting the particles thrown ofl. bysaid cup, rotating means for rotating said collector, said collector comrising radially and circumfercomprising concentrically entially spacedparticle receiving pockets bottomed by the upper surface of said table,said pockets-being arranged to discharge their contents through saiddischarge opening as the peckets come into registry with said dischargeopening.

, 13. A device of-the character described, said device comprising aclosed vertical casing formed in its upper part with restricted airinlet means, a vertical rotary shaft supported in said casing,

means for rotating said shaft, an inverted coni-= calcup fixed axiallysecured on said shaft, a stationary table supported in'said casing belowthe upper edge of said cup, said table being formed with a dischargeopening, collector means on said table for collecting particles throwncentrifugally fromv said cup as said cup is rotated, an air sleevespacedly surrounding and depend ing below said cup and said shaft andtraversing said table and said collector, and suction means incommuncationv with the lower a end of 'said air sleeve whereby air isdrawn down said air sleeve from said air inlet means across the spacebetween the wall of the casing and the region of said cup in a movementcounter-current to the centrifugal movement of the particles from saidcup. j

14. A device of the character described, said device comprising a closedvertical casing formed in its upper part with restricted air inletmeans, a vertical rotary shaft supported in said casing, means forrotating said shaft, an inverted conical cup fixed axially secured onsaid shaft, a stationary table supported in said casing below the upperedge of said cup, said table being formed with a discharge opening,collector means on said table for collectingparticles thrown cen--trifugally from said cup as said cup is rotated,- an air sleeve spacedlysurrounding and depending below said cup and said shaft and traversingsaid table and said collector, and suction means in communication withthe lower end of said air sleeve whereby air is drawn down said airsleeve from said air inlet means across the space between the wall ofthe casing and the region'of said cup in a movement counter-current tothe centrifugal movement of the particles from edge of said cup.

15. A device of the character described, said;

device comprising a closed vertical casing formed in its upper part withrestricted air inlet means, a vertical rotary shaft supported in saidcasing, means for rotating said shaft, an inverted conical cup fixedaxially secured on said shaft, a stationary table supported in saidcasing below the upper edge of said cup, said table being formed with adischarge opening, collector means on said table for collectingparticles thrown centrifugally from said cup as-said cup is rotated,.anair sleeve spacedly surrounding and depending below said cup and saidshaft and traversing said table and said collector, and suction means incommunication with the lower end of said air sleeve whereby air is drawndown said air sleeve from said air inlet means across the space betweenthewall of the casing and the region of said cup in a movementcounter-current to'the centrifugal movement of the particles from saidcup, said vertical shaft depending to a point below said flftable'andsaid suction means comprising 1a eac- .tion .huusing :belowzsaidtrtableiand: into which .:said shaftnependaiandra fan-fixedon'saidzshaft withhr said housing,;said housing having its intakeconnected to the lowereendof saidlairrsleeve -;and iits d-ischargeopening thazough the iSidB of =said:casing.

116. :Awdevice ;of *the. character ,desnnibedr-isaid device-comprising:a closed verticallucasingtiamertical rotary shaftsupportedrin.saidmasingmmans I tor rotating said =shaft,asubstantiallyninvented "shaft, a stationary rtable :supported: across-said casing below the-upper end \of:: said-:cup,:--said 'table beingformed with :a :discharge 'opening, '-a rotary collector supported.-:imme.diatel y above said table for collecting the particlesthrown-01f uby said cup,"rotati-ng means :fonnotatingsaidcd- #1601201,:said' collector; comprising radially; and circumferentiallyspacedparticlereceivingpockets.

=bottomed .bythe :upper: surfaceiofisaidutablegsaid pockets beingarranged to discharge- .-their-. roanqtents throug-h said discharge"opening rsaid col- .-1ector having depending;circumferentiallyribs-onits minder side running incaccommodating grooves 4,

rotarypocket equipped collectorsurrounding-said V shaft and positionedimmediately above .said .table,.a verticakairsleeve surrounding'saidshaft, said air-sleevetraversingsaid table and-said collector, Yasuctionmeansbelowx-said tableandconnected to the lowerend ofesaid airsleeve said sleeve rising to asubstantial height .abovesaid tableandha-ving .a Qflaring cl pper. part-and an inverted conical centrifugal-cupl securednaxially to said ishaft so as to turnwithinlandinconcenltrically spaced relation to. said .flaringlupper,part ofthe airlsleeve, said cup having its .up.per-edge positioned atanelevation slightly above-the upperedge of saidzflaring upper p'ar'toflfthe-air "sleeve, said suction means b'e'ingarrangd to draw air'downbetween the cup and thefiar'ing upperpart of the airsleeve'lfrom saidair-inlet means in 'a"movement"'acr.oss the space between the wallofsaidchamber" and said" cup countercurrent to thementrifug'a'lIIIOVBIIIEl'lt'OfIIlfiT- tides and entrained =air fronrsarid'cup'where'by 'the centrifugally projected particles "fol'lowitheir normaltrajectories without substantial deviation.

18. In a centrifugal separator for solid "par- :ticles of varying mass,'a table, a esiibstantially closed casing :r isin-g :aronnd arid iormin'g 8,""SlIb- :stantially ."closed semi-spherical dome-shaped -:spaceabove :saidvtablepan inverted conical-cen- -tm'fugal, :cup characterizedihy relatively "steep sides, means:rotatahly:mmuntirig ==said cap--'subwstantiallyat the verticallcenterzofisaidcspace and above: saidtable; meansifior. rotating lvheicu said cup :hav-ingrelativelyas-teepsidesto oause particles .:therein .to :spiral upwardlythe sides "of the 'cup and be: centrifiugafiiy :progected over 'theupper edge of the cup inzahimmbnellaialikezshower the outside 'of whichisnbstantiallyicon-forms to the shape of'ithedomeeshapdccasing, and-col- "lector means on-said table:forzseparateiyccollectgins.they-projected particles which sfezll at -diifier- :partz-oi saidclipissurroundedzby:theaupper Ipart rof anrair' sleeve traversing .saidttable a'nd having s-suntion: meaznstin communicationrwith its lowersend-said suction :means :operating to draw air across;thexicasingifromesaidaa ir: mlet means into "the Iu'ppersend of said :airx-sleevecounter-current vtozthetravehof the particles flOInaibhez cup andthexairrentrained therein lso as to perm-it free -fal1'1JOf theriparticles 'sontoxsaid table, f'the supper .-;part- :of said air.sleeve :being v relatively closely spaced from the sides of said:oupaand havin'g a diameter not 'substaxizrtially greater than that ofvisaid Eeup.

r 29. A-device:for'segregating particles of differ-- ent weight, from anincoming aggregate' of suoh v:pariticles, and :oollecting the particles:are either- :ent =weight sso tsegregated, 'zsai'd -device involvi-ng .anapproximately rsemi spherical dome, means --forrproducing" within saiddome a spherica'lor umbrlla-Iike shower of said material, the ax-is ,iofwhichishower.ii'sz substantiallycoincident with the axis ofsaidwdomemandvmeansspanning the .lower portion of-ithe domean'd arrangedto intericept :t-he: pnecipitatedimatenials according' to "the.razdialzprojectionlof the materialsfrorh the-axis er :the dome a-ndrto'rnaimtain'ithe :separation' thus initiated, :said device :ibeing i soconstructed -"and iarranged "that the :outer portion of shower is*closely adjacentathe inner sur'face of the semispherical ldome.

s21. Thestructure deflned-in claim?!) in which"theimeanszsforiproducting"the shower is 'a wary 'rpowerdriven zcup withits open en'd upwar'd "near t-hejztop ofssaid domeandzarranged' torotatealpproximaitelyomthe vertical axis of the dome.

v222,-Azdem'ce fQrsegIegatingeparticles of dif- Yierent "weight,ifizoms-an' incoming :':aggregate or zsuchmartic'les; andvcollecting-=the particles of 5 a :difierent weight so segregated, said deviceinvoiving approximately --semi'-sp he'r-ical dome, means for producingwithin said domea spheri- $02,101. zumbre'llali'ke shower of saidmaterial, the :axiszof which shower is substantially coincident nth-eaxisrofssaid idome, and 'means aat the hase of saiddome forcol iectingthe precipitated -=stock in accondahce withthe trajeotory' on-whi'ch fitis zrpi o-jected from the axis r of the idome; said .device' being- 5oconstructed :and arranged -tha t 'athefiouter portion of shower isclosely-adjacent :thesinmer surface or the semi-spheric'al dome.

23. ':The structure idefineduin "claim 120 in which rthe means i'iiorproducing the spherical--shower zof'vmatenialfis:aLrotaryacentriziugalproiectomand inffurther combinationvwith means: for rotating saidprojects-mat variable speeds.

'-24.'Thestructure defined-in claim '20 in which :the means for:produoi'ng then-shower is a rotary power-driven cup set Withits openend upward nearlthe' top'oisaid dorne:and;arranged to rotate 1011theyertica-l'saxis of thezd'omazzand in further :combination "means i-orrotating said 'c'np iatmariableispeedsp I r :25. iIn 1a cma'c-hine Ifor: separating apar ticles cor "different weight from an incomingaggregate of particles, Lmeans for outwardly proje'ctirrg =anumbrella-like shower of :material, I a ceasing enclosing saidshower-producing means, the construction and arrangement being such thatthe -outer portion of the shower is closely adjacent the inner surfaceof the casing, and means at the base of said casing for collecting theprecipitated stock in accordance with the trajectory on which it isprojected'from the axis of the dome.

26. In a machine for separating particles of different weight from anincoming aggregate of such particles, means for outwardly projecting anumbrella-like shower of material about a vertical axis, a casingenclosing said showerproducing means theconstruction and arrangementbeing such that the outer portion of the shower is closely adjacent theinner surface of the casing, and means at the base of said casing forcollecting the precipitated stock in accordance with the trajectory onwhich it is projected from the axis of the dome.

27.- The structure defined in claim 25 in further combination with meansfor maintaining a .movement of air inwardly through the shower ofmaterial, toward the axis thereof.

28. The structure defined in claim 25 in which the shower-enclosingcasing is provided with a series of circumferentially spacedperforations,

- and in further combination with means for maintaining a flow of airinto the casing through said perforations and through said shower ofabout a vertical axis, a casing enclosing said shower-producing meansand. shaped to closely I follow the outer portion of the projectedshower of material in close outwardly spaced relation thereto, and meansat the base of said casing for collecting the precipitated stock inaccord- 'ance with the trajectory on which it is projected from the axisof the dome, the construction and arrangement being such that the outerportion of the shower is closely adjacent'the inner surface of thecasing.

31. In a machine for separating particles of different weight from anincoming aggregate of such particles, a vertically disposedcross-sectionally cylindrical casing, means located near the upper axialportion of the casing for receiving an aggregate of material andprojecting 'the same outwardly therefrom in an annular shower, the outerportion of which annular shower is inwardly spaced from the casing andis shaped to approximately correspond to the contour of the interior ofsaid casing, and means at the base of said casing for collecting theprecipitated stock in accordance with the trajectory on which it isprojected from the axis of the dome the construction and j arrangementbeing such that the outer portion of the shower is closely adjacent theinner surface of the casing.

32. In a machine for separating particles of different weight, from anincoming aggregate of such particles, means for outwardly projectinganumbrella-like shower of material, and a 'casing enclosing said showerproducing .means and shaped to substantially correspond to the shape ofthe outer portion of the projected shower of material, said meanscomprising a rotary delivery cup provided with a vertically adjustableannular rim applied at its perimeter, the interior of said verticallyadjustable rim being of uniform diameter and extending parallel to theaxis of the cup,

33. In a machine for separating particles of different weight, from anincoming aggregate of such particles, means in the nature of a verticalaxis power driven rotary cup for projecting an annular shower ofmaterial, a casing enclosing said annular shower producing means andshaped to substantially correspond to the outer portion of the projectedannular shower of material, and a rim closely embracing the perimeter ofthe cup and mounted thereon for vertical adjusting movements between theplane of the upper edge of the cup and a plane above the upper edge ofthe cup, whereby to effectively vary the vertical depth of the cup andthe shape of the projected shower of material.

34. A device of the character described, said device comprising a closedvertical casing, a vertical rotary shaft supported in said casing, a.stationary table across said casing below the top of the casing andtraversed by said shaft, a.

rotary collector immediately above said table, rotating means forrotatingsaid collector independently of said shaft, said collectorcomprising radially and circumferentially spaced pockets bottomed by theupper surface of said table, an air conduit spacedly surrounding saidshaft and traversing said collector and said table, a suction fan havingits intake connected to the lower end of said air conduit, a centrifugalmaterial projecting cup fixed to said shaft within the open upper end ofsaid air conduit for projecting particles deposited in said cup todifferently radially spaced ones of said pockets of said collector inaccordance with the specific gravity of the particles', and air inletsin said dome-shaped top admitting outside air to the interior of the topto be drawn into the upper end of said air conduit by said suction fan,said suction fan having an exhaust exterior of said casing, said tablebeing formed with a diametrically extended pocketed particle dischargeopening into which "the pocketed particles are pushed by said rotary,for directing particles from one or a selected number of radiallyspaced pockets of said table excluslvely into a selected one or ones ofsaid outlets. I

35. A device of the character described, said device comprising a closedvertical casing, a vertical rotary shaft supported in said casing, astationary table across said casing below the top of the casing andtraversed by said shaft, a rotary .collector immediately above saidtable, rotating means for rotating said collector independently of saidshaft, said collector comprising radially and circumferentially spacedpockets bottomed by the upper'surface of said table, an air conduitspacedly surrounding said shaft and traversing 'said collector and saidtable, a suction fan having its intake connected to the lower end ofsaid air conduit, a centrifugal material projecting cup fixed to saidshaft within the open upper end of said air conduit for projectingparticles deposited in said cup to differently radially spaced ones ofsaid pockets of said collector in accordance with the specific gravityof the particles, air inlets in said dome-shaped top admitting outsideair to the interior of the top to be drawn into the upper end of saidair conduit by said suction fan,

said suction fan having an exhaust exterior of said casing, said tablebeing formed with a diametrically extending pocketed particle dischargeopening into which the pocketed particles are pushed by said rotarycollector, a receiver under said discharge opening, said receivercomprising a receptacle comprising a bottom formed with a plurality ofoutlets arranged in radially outwardly spaced manner respecting saidtable, individual delivery spouts connected with said outlets, and aplurality of adjustable valve means in said receiver for directingparticles from one or a selected number of radially spaced pockets ofsaid table exclusively into a selected one or ones of said outlets, saidplurality of adjustable valve means comprising a number of verticalplates hinged at their lower ends on the bottom of said receptacle, theupper ends of said plates having spring pressed followers to maintaincontact with the bottom of said collector during difierently angulatedpositions of said plates, and means for selectively adjusting theangular positions of the individual plates.

36. In a machine for separating particles of difierent weight, from anincoming aggregate of such particles, means in the nature of a verticalaxis power-driven rotary cup for receiving an aggregate of suchparticles and projecting therefrom an umbrella-like annular shower ofthe particles, a casing enclosing said annular shower producing meansand shaped to closely correspond to the outer portion of theprojectedannular shower of particles, the construction and arrangement being suchthat the outer portion of the shower is closely adjacent the innersurface of the casing and means for varying the speed of discharge ofmaterial, from the rotary cup so as to Vary the shape and diameter ofthe outside of the shower, whereby the shape of the shower may be madeto more closely conform to the shape and size of the casing tocompensate for variations in cup speed and different materialcharacteristics. 7

' 37. The structuredefined in claim 36 in which the last said means isin the nature of a rim closely embracing the perimeter of the cup andmounted thereon for vertical adjusting movements.

WILLIAM N. SMITH.

